Retort oven for low temperature carbonization



@ct. 2, 1934. J. scHAi-"ER RETORT OVEN FOR LOW TEMPERATURE CARBONIZATION Filed Oct. 23, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Get. 2, 1934, Y J. SCHAFER RETORT OVEN FOR LOW TEMPERATURE CARBONIZATION Filed Oct. 25, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 R m; 5 0 4 N WMNQR 52 0 5 V T NE A w Patented Oct. 2 1934 PATENT FFlCE RETORT OVEN FOR LOW TEMPERATURE CARBONIZATION Joseph Schafer, Dortmund, Germany, assignor to Compagnie Generale de Distillation et Cokefaction a Basse Temperature et Miniere (Intertrust) Socit Anonyme, Glaris, Switzerland,

a corporation of Switzerland Application October 23, 1928, Serial No. 314,380 In Germany March 28, 1928 13 Claims. (Cl. 202114) This invention relates to an oven of the ring type for carrying out the low temperature carbonization of carbonaceous fuel in retorts. In this type of oven, which is described in Patent 5 No. 1,636,975 dated the 26th July 1927 the retorts are located in chambers arranged above a free space so that the bottom of the retorts, with their contents, can be lowered bodily into said space for discharging purposes. In operation each chamber in turn is subjected to direct heating and the following chambers are gradually heated by the combustion gases while the air required for the combustion is led through the chambers preceding the directly heated chamber and is thus preheated while coolingisaid chambers.

The object of the present invention is to improve the efiiciency of such ovens, to render the supervision and upkeep thereof more easy and to simplify the discharging operation. With these objects in view, in accordance with my invention, the retorts are no longer subjected to direct heating, but they are each connected with an auxiliary chamber, hereinafter termed combustion chamber, in which the ignition of the heating gases takes place, the combustion chambers being inserted in the annular circuit of the oven and fired in turn, so that the retorts never become overheated, which is prejudiciable to the volatile products evolved. Moreover the connections provided between the chambers for feeding the heating gases and evacuating the burnt gases are arranged outside the oven and comprise a distributing pipe, which is preferably-annular and then surrounds the oven structure. With this arrangement only short connecting pipes have to be carried through the brickwork of the oven and the supervision and upkeep of .the pipes and valves are considerably facilitated.

In order to obtain a most complete utilization of the heat carried by the burnt gases the retorts in each chamber are arranged in staggered relation so that the hot gases flow against the Walls of all the retorts and are forced to follow a sinuous course between them. Outside the retorts are provided transverse ribs or partitions which also compel the gases to follow a zigzag path in the vertical direction.

The gas off-take for, the volatile products evolved in each retort is provided at the bottom thereof. In each retort chamber the gas off-take spaces are connected with each other and form together a collecting chamber which, at the same time, serves as asupport for the charges of all the retorts in one chamber and is'adapted to be lowered with said charges when the carbonizing operation is completed. The volatile products being drawn off at the bottom of the retorts are under pressure and consequently no outside air tends to enter the retorts. The provision of a common support for the charges of all the retorts in one chamber also simplifies to a considerable extent the discharging operation.

The accompanying drawings illustrate diagrammatically, by way of example, a retort oven in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section, partly in elevation, as taken along part of line I-I in Figure 2;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view, taken on line IIII of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section taken on line IIIIII in Figure 1, and

Fig. 4 shows a detail on a larger scale.

The retort chambers indicated by 0- are arranged above service passages c (Fig. 3) of sufficient depth to allow of the retorts being discharged from below. To each chamber 0 is annexed an auxiliary chamber is arranged in front thereof and herein referred to as a combustion chamber, and the chambers o with their respective combustion chambers it are interconnected ring-fashion by a plurality of connecting flues d and 013 Around the oven and externally thereof extends an annular distributinpipe a communicating on the one hand with a connection I) for leading in the heating gases and on the other hand with a connection 0 to the chimney not shown.- Dampers s divide this pipe into a plurality of sections. The pipe a can be connected to each of the combustion chambers k by valves 22 which preferably are double acting and comprise as shown in Fig. 4 an upper air inlet valve 0 adapted to be operated independently of the gas valve 22 Suitable gas burners m are provided in each combustion chamber k.

As illustrated in Fig. 2, the retorts r are arranged in staggered relation so that the gases will flow against their walls, causing the gaseous currents to break up and follow sinuous paths. Transverse partitions r which may be formed by outer ribs on the retort walls, compel the gases flowing through the chambers o to follow also a zigzag course in a vertical direction.

In operation, the gas is ignited in one or more of the combustion chambers k, the valves 1; leading to said chambers then being open in order to connect same through part of the pipe a. with the gas supplypipeb. The burnt gases flow through the chamber or chambers 0 communicating with said combustion chambers 10, then they successively pass through some of the following chambers 0 and combustion chambers k; and escape to the chimney through another portion of the pipe 0. and the pipe 0-, the portion of pipe a connected with the gas supply 75 always being separated by one of the dampers s from the portion connected with the outlet pipe 0.

When the charge in the retorts in one or more chambers c has reached a sufficient degree of carbonization, the air inlet valve 21 leading to the combustion chamber is of the first of these chambers o is opened, and the air admitted therethrough flows through said chamber and the following chambers and thus becomes heated. This heated air then is brought together with the heating gases in the combustion chambers k where the combustion takes place.

The retort chambers thus are successively subjected to gradually increasing heat until the charge has reached the desired degree of carbonization whereupon they are gradually cooled and serve to preheat the combustion air, but even when subjected to the highest temperature, the retorts are solely heated by burnt gases, so that no overheating oi the charge is to be feared. The pipe :1 with the valves 12, v and the dampers 3 being arranged outside, it always is easy to ascertain the position of the controlling devices and these are easily accessible for cleaning and repairs.

The volatile products evolved in the course of the carbonization escape through perforated conduits 10 arranged within the retorts and opening at the bottom into collector chambers f, there being in each retort chamber 0 a collector chamber 1 common to all the retorts in said chamber 0. The collectors f form the bottom of the retorts and support the charge thereof. A pivoted tube 2' connects each collector f with the condensers h.

In the passages g provided under the retort chambers 0 travels a truck to on which each of the collectors f can be lowered bodily with its charge, in order to be transferred to a tipping wagon for instance, if the carbonized material is in the form of solid blocks. If said material is in a loose condition it falls directly into the wagon 20 when the collector f is lowered and in this case it can be removed at once from said wagon. During the discharging operation, the pivoted connection 2' is swung aside so as not to stand in the way of the collector Each chamber 0 is closed at the top by a cover 7', in one or more pieces. Since the volatile products of the carbonization are drawn off at the bottom of the retorts, they are under a certain pressure and consequently no outside air will tend to enter the retorts.

The charging of the retorts may be effected by means of wagons u travelling on the roof of the oven structure and provided with downwardly movable charging hoppers.

I claim:

1. In a retort oven for low temperature carbonization, the combination of a plurality of heating chambers, closed retorts in each of said chambers, a plurality of combustion chambers, said combustion chambers alternating with said heating chambers, means for directly heating each of said combustion chambers, and passages for communicably connecting said heating chambers and said combustion chambers in a closed unbroken series.

2. In a retort oven for low temperature carbonization, the combination of a plurality of chambers side by side arranged ring fashion to form a ring oven, closed retorts in some of said chambers, heating means in the other chambers, the retort containing chambers communicably alternating with said other chambers, and passages between each pair of adjacent chambers connecting all said chambers in a closed unbroken series.

3. In a retort oven for low temperature carbonization the combination of an oven structure comprising a closed unbroken series of heating chambers, closed retorts in each or" said chambers, a plurality of combustion chambers communicating each with one of said heating chambers, said combustion chambers alternating with said heating chambers, a distribution pipe outside said oven structure, and means for communicably connecting said pipe with each of said combustion chambers.

4. In a retort oven for low temperature carbonization, the combination of an oven structure comprising a plurality of heating chambers,

closed retorts in each of said chambers, a plurality of combustion chambers associated therewith, gas burners in said combustion chambers, passages communicably connecting all said chambers in a closed unbroken series, said heating chambers and combustion chambers being associated and arranged in alternating sequence, an annular distribution pipe surrounding said oven structure, means for connecting said pipe with each of said combustion chambers, a gas inlet means and an outlet means both connected to said pipe, and shutting-off means in said pipe interposed between said inlet and said outlet means.

5. In a retort oven for low temperature carbonization, the combination or" a plurality of associated pairs of chambers, each pair comprising a heating chamber and a combustion chamber communicating therewith, retorts in each heating chamber and heating means in each combustion chamber, the combustion chambers alternating with the heating chambers, passages for communicably connecting With each other said pairs of chambers in a closed unbroken series, and means for supplying fuel gas to said combustion chambers comprising a main pipe, pipe connections between said main pipe and each of said heating chambers, and a controlling valve in each of said pipe connections.

6. In a retort oven for low temperature carbonization, the combination of a plurality of associated pairs of chambers, each pair comprising a heating chamber and a combustion chamber, each heating chamber being connected with another heating chamber through one of said. combustion chambers, closed retorts in said heating chambers, gas burners in said combustion chambers, and means for supplying combustible gas mixture to said combustion chambers comprising a main gas pipe, branch pipes leading from said main pipe to each of said combustion chambers respectively, valves for controlling the gas flow through said branch pipes, and valves for admitting air into said branch pipes. 7 Z

7. In a retort oven for low temperature carbonization, the combination of a plurality of associated pairs of chambers inter-communicating in a closed unbroken series, each pair comprising a heating chamber and a combustion chamber communicating therewith, closed vertical retorts arranged in staggered relation in each of said heating chambers, and heating means in' said combustion chambers.

8. In a retort oven for low temperature carbonization, the combination of a plurality of associated pairs of chambers arranged side by side and inter-communicating in a closed unroken series, each pair comprising a heating chamber and a combustion chamber, closed vertical retorts arranged in staggered relation in each of said heating chambers, heating means in said combustion chambers, and substantially horizontal bafiles extending across said heating chambers.

9. In a retort oven for low temperature carbonization, the combination of a chamber, aplurality of closed vertical retorts in said chamber, said retorts being open at the bottom, a central gas off-take element in each retort for receiving the volatile products distilled therein, a removable support for the gas off-take elements of all said retorts, said support forming a closure at the bottoms of all said retorts and enclosing a gas collecting chamber communicably connected with all said gas off-take elements, a gas outlet ior said gas collecting chamber, and a discharging room under said support, said discharging room being adapted to receive said support and said gas oii-take elements together with solid material from the retorts.

10. In a retort oven for low temperature carbonization, the combination of a plurality of associated pairs of chambers communicating in an endless series, each pair comprising a heating chamber and a combustion chamber, a battery of vertical retorts in each of said heating chambers, said retorts being open at the bottom, gas off-take elements in said retorts, a discharging chamber under said chambers, and discharging means comprising for each heating chamber a support for the gas oiT-take elements in all the retorts of said chamber, said support forming a closure for the bottom of said retorts and being adapted to be lowered with said gas off-take elements into said chamber for discharging purposes.

11. In a retort oven for low temperature carbonization, the combination of a plurality of associated pairs of chambers communicating in an endless series, each pair comprising a heating chamber and a combustion chamber, a battery ofrvertical retorts in each of said heating chambers, said retorts being open at the bottom, a discharging room under said chambers, a removable hollow member under each battery of retorts, said member forming a closure both at the bottom of each retort and at the bottom of each heating chamber, hollow gas off-take elements in said retorts, said elements resting on said member and communicating therewith, and movable outlet pipes for said hollow members.

12. In a retort oven for low temperature carbonization, the combination of a plurality of combustion chambers and retort containing chambers alternated in a closed unbroken series forming a ring oven, an annular distributing pipe, said distributing pipe serving simultaneously for separately conveying both the combustible fuel gases and the Waste exhaust gases, a valve for admitting the fuel gases from said distributing pipe to said combustion chambers, means forming a part of said valve and operable independently thereof for admitting air in order tomingle with the fuel gases within the combustion chambers, and means positioned in said distributing pipe for sub-dividing the pipe into a portion which serves as the fuel inlet means and a separate portion which serves as the outlet means for the exhaust gases.

13. In a retort oven for low temperature carbonization, the combination of a plurality of associated pairs of chambers communicating in endless series, each pair comprising a heating chamber and a combustion chamber, a battery of vertical retorts in each of said heating chambers, said retorts being open at the bottom, gas elf-take elements in said retorts, a discharging room under said chambers, discharging means for each heating chamber including a support for the gas off-take elements in all of the retorts of said chamber, said support forming a closure for the bottom of said retorts and being adapted to be lowered with said gas off-take elements into said room for discharging purposes, and means for supplying a combustible gas mixture to said combustion chambers comprising a main gas pipe, branch pipes leading from said main pipe to each of said combustion chambers respectively, valves for controlling the gas flow through said branch pipes, and valves for admitting air into said branch pipes.

JOSEPH soHAFER. 

